Gatestone Institute. Christianity found its way to Sudan in the 1st century as well, and the region's Nubian churches had links to those in Egypt. And these are only those we know of. When one begins to look at the history of Christianity in Nigeria, one might expect to find its origins in Europeans bringing this new religion across to Africa. This meant that Europeans and Americans were seen as ruling Africans both in political and ecclesiastical matters. The church served as a rallying point for a number of Christian missionaries who brought Christianity into Abeokuta at the time. Slave trade in Nigeria, destroyed a lot of families, ruined the Nigerian economy, decentralized societies at large and hunger and famine was not left out. The ignored slaughter of Christians in the Middle East, in particular, Nigeria, is beyond words. At least the first storey building in Nigeria is located there and it was built by the missionaries, acclaimed to have brought Christianity to Nigeria. The Christian cleric pointed out that annually, Muslims from various states of northern Nigeria do usually come to the church and celebrate Christmas with … Thus, the advent of colonial masters led to the introduction of a new religion, Christianity, which is added to the two available religions, African traditional religion already exiting then. ... Rather than lament the trouble that Nigeria has brought upon you this Yuletide, pause for a … “Is Nigeria truly one country? He was one of Africa’s most influential Pentecostal preachers of the 20th century and he was the founder of the Church of God Mission International which was established in 1972. Prior to the “Caliphate movement” and the “colonial era”, which brought Islam and Christianity (to Nigeria) respectively, there is only a single religion in practice – the traditional religion. Nigeria - Nigeria - Nigeria as a colony: After the British government assumed direct control of the Royal Niger Company’s territories, the northern areas were renamed the Protectorate of Northern Nigeria, and the land in the Niger delta and along the lower reaches of the river was added to the Niger Coast Protectorate, which was renamed the Protectorate of Southern Nigeria. Additionally, Crowther was a pioneer of local Christian missionary work in the country and he was pivotal in the translation of the Bible into Yoruba language. According to a 2010 survey conducted by the Pew Forum, Nigeria’s population has both Christians and Muslims in a nearly equal ratio, with a small percentage of the population following other religious beliefs such as indigenous faiths and no affiliations at all. Its foundation was laid by Reverend Andrew Desalu Wilhelm, and it was completed in 1898. These churches were characterized by fervent prayer styles, known by the Yoruba word Aladura (praying people). Nigeria Table of Contents. According to local Nigerian media reports, six girls and two staff members of a Christian high school in the north-central part of the country have been released after a … Their mission to the Kingdom of Benin was not very fruitful, as, once again, the king was not all that interested in a new religion. Some local Pentecostal churches also sprung up, these include the Celestial Church of Christ which arrived in western Nigeria from Benin to become one of Africa’s largest Aladura churches. They are presently the least influenced by traditional religious beliefs. Bulus Y. Galadima and Yusufu Turaki explored the spread of Christianity of Nigeria in the work they called “Christianity of Nigeria.” To provide the clear understanding of how this religion came to Nigeria, we have to mention that the state we know today was divided into several regions which had their own social and economic conditions which either stimulate the spread of it or prevented it from it. The school system introduced people in the country to new ideologies, which spanned across different areas of human existence. Christians are found primarily in the South. The way they communicated it to the people in Nigeria made Christianity seem like something that was confined to the church walls. At least the first storey building in Nigeria is located there and it was built by the missionaries, acclaimed to have brought Christianity to Nigeria. These traditional practices were integral to culture and as a result Christianity faced some resistance. It was from Jerusalem that the Church expanded to other parts of the world. We hope you have learnt some history in our brief history of Christianity in Nigeria in its early days. Since military rule ended in Nigeria in 1999, the country's presidency has typically alternated between a Christian Southerner and a Muslim Northerner. The Christian populace is made up of Protestant (30.6%), Unspecified Christians (10.8%), Roman Catholics (10.0%) and other Christians (0.5%). Until his last day on this Earth, he worked hard to bring God to Nigerians. One of the most prominent people that were largely responsible for the Christianisation of Nigeria is Samuel Ajiya Crowther, a former slave of Yoruba origin. Over 11,500 Christians have been murdered in Nigeria since June 2015, Genocide Watch reported in April. That said, their efforts were not all that successful at the time. slaves who became a Christian in Sierra-Leone and later joined the Anglican mission to Nigeria was a Nigerian from the Yoruba extraction. Christianity in Nigeria: History and Impacts, List of Local Governments in Taraba State, Family Law in Nigeria: All You Need to Know, GTBank Personal Banking: How to Get Started, 10 Richest Families in Nigeria (Forbes List, 2020), Nigeria Police Salary Structure (New Salary Scale). Nigeria, a nation of close to 200 million people, is made up about evenly of Christians and Muslims. The missionaries, however, did not leave long enough to tell the tale, as most of them were struck down by malaria. “The British military expansion into Northern Nigeria introduced Christianity to a region which had experienced over five hundred years of Islam; hence, there were religion-based skirmishes between the Muslims and the [invading] British Christians. What is really horrible, is the Media that does not make an effort to get this out to the public. In 1964, he became the first black Bishop of the Anglican Communion. Christians live predominantly in the South; Muslims are the majority in the North. Islam empowered the Hausas to be a dominant trib… As if to further disprove the principle of Uruedon at Uzere, it was also a woman who brought Christianity to Illue-Ologbo. The year 1841 was the beginning of modem mission work in Nigeria led by Bishop Ajayi Crowther. Who is the most respected pastor in Nigeria? What they brought with them was denomination. Also, the Foursquare Gospel Church was also introduced in Nigeria at the same time. Christians are found primarily in the South. In 1953, the percentage of the Christian population was 21.4% and that percentage has doubled to over 50% with over 75 million Christians in Nigeria. They baptised him and gave him a Christian name Sebastian. “The British military expansion into Northern Nigeria introduced Christianity to a region which had experienced over five hundred years of Islam; hence, there were religion-based skirmishes between the Muslims and the [invading] British Christians. M Most killings take place in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, where the halves of the country meet. Additionally, many of the materials that portrayed Nigeria’s rich cultural traditions were either destroyed or carted away by foreign missionaries. They came into cities like Benin and Warri where they preached Christianity. Islam empowered the Hausas to be a dominant trib… Nigeria’s 206 million people are almost evenly divided between Muslims and Christians. As early as the 11th Century, traders from Guinea, Mali, Borno and North Africa brought Islam to the Hausas, who accepted and supported its spread. The local kings cared more about the guns he could offer them rather than the tales of his Christianity. Christianity found its way to Sudan in the 1st century as well, and the region's Nubian churches had links to those in Egypt. Christianity brought western ideas with it and the modernization associated with the religion caused an increased preference for jobs among the people from agriculture to white collar jobs. One of the most popular preachers during this period was Joseph Babalola of Faith Tabernacle. For instance, when Portugal’s Henry the Navigator tried to carry out his exploratio… This religion has been existing since as far back as the geographical entity known as Nigeria today has been in existence. The education provided by the missionaries was also instrumental in converting a good number of slaves to Christianity. Mega churches seem to have arrived with the advent of Pentecostalism which can be traced to the early 20th century in America. They were not some strangers from the foreign land that preached their own gospel. Over 11,500 Christians have been murdered in Nigeria since June 2015, Genocide Watch reported in April. Before European colonization, the Igbo lived in autonomous local communities, but by the mid-20th century a sense of ethnic identity was strongly developed. The National Church of Nigeria (previously known as the Nigerian Ecumenical Centre and officially known as the National Christian Centre) is a non-denominational church building of the Christian Association of Nigeria, the umbrella body of many of Nigeria's Christian … Mark the Evangelist made history in the year 43 when he became the first bishop to serve in the Orthodox Church of Alexandria. The African Story: Amazing Growth, Unthinkable Persecution In the 20th century alone, there have been some 1.8 million Christian martyrs in Africa. Some religious scholars believe that Christianity was introduced to Africans by way of the Egyptian city of Alexandria. The African Story: Amazing Growth, Unthinkable Persecution In the 20th century alone, there have been some 1.8 million Christian martyrs in Africa. This was the reason why many people across Africa found themselves involved in various conflicts because of the differences in their religious views. Bishop Ajayi Crowther was a slave taken from Nigeria. Of that percentage, about 74% are Protestants, 25% Roman Catholic, while the rest are split among other Christian denominations. What began happening was that if the Africans did rebel against this control, they would simply be excommunicated. “[Yet] this news brought sadness to my heart as I thought about many Christians who are still in captivity. As early as the 11th Century, traders from Guinea, Mali, Borno and North Africa brought Islam to the Hausas, who accepted and supported its spread. That said, their efforts were not all that successful at the time. He was by name Samuel Ajayi Crowther, baptized in 1842, ordained in 1845 and consecrated Bishop in 1864 (Adiele, 2001). Thus, the advent of colonial masters led to the introduction of a new religion, Christianity, which is added to the two available religions, African traditional religion already exiting then. Islam is the dominant faith in the North, and Christianity in the South. Nigeria 45.9% Togo 42.6%. According to local Nigerian media reports, six girls and two staff members of a Christian high school in the north-central part of the country have been released after a … The first church in Nigeria is the Cathedral Church of St. Peter, Ake, Abeokuta. By the middle of the nineteenth century, Africans had begun to follow the ideas of Christianity. Nigeria is becoming the “biggest killing ground of Christians in the world” due to attacks by Boko Haram and Fulani militants, says a leading charity. It can be argued that the actual intent behind their voyage was more in the interest of slave business, than it was for mis… And for every village razed down, five unreached villages must be reached with the Gospel and love of Christ. Christians in Nigeria should resolve that for every Christian killed, five people who have not known Christ must be brought to the saving knowledge of Christ. In 1986, David Oyedepo founded Living Faith Church which is popularly known as Winners Chapel. On the other hand, the mission to Itsekiri Kingdom proved to be more successful. They came without an accurate sense of what they would encounter in Nigeria. As more Christians were persecuted, more virgin mission fields were discovered. For them, religion was something ingrained in their lives. Over the years, Christianity has grown rapidly. Many years later, some of these slaves returned to Nigeria with the religion they had learned from their Europeans masters. The preacher led a revival in the 1930s that converted thousands of locals. The Establishment of Christian Missions in Nigeria The Christian Church took its origin from Jerusalem, the historic capital city of Israel. Missionaries hoped that their dedicated hearts would be enough to convert the people of Africa. Since 2015, the Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust estimates that more than 6,000 Christians have been killed in Nigeria (1,000 in 2019 alone) and thousands have been displaced from their homes. However, that is a story for another time. The Catholic Church has an increase of followers in Nigeria. At the initial stage of Christianity, many of the traditional practices such as polyygamy, blood pacts, oath swearing, divination etc were declared as taboos. Eventually, slave trade was abolished in the British Empire in 1833 and many of the slaves were freed. Nigeria is becoming the “biggest killing ground of Christians in the world” due to attacks by Boko Haram and Fulani militants, says a leading charity. As more Christians were persecuted, more virgin mission fields were discovered. The Archdioceses of the Roman Catholic Church are Abuja, Benin City, Calabar, Ibadan, Jos, Kaduna, Lagos, Onitsha, Owerri, and Sokoto. Before European colonization, the Igbo lived in autonomous local communities, but by the mid-20th century a sense of ethnic identity was strongly developed. The mega church syndrome can be traced to 1910 when a local charismatic movement led by an Anglican deacon split from the Anglican church to become the Christ Army Church. What is really horrible, is the Media that does not make an effort to get this out to the public. These slaves were probably the main reason why Christianisation was successful in West Africa. The first Christians came in contact with Nigerians in the fifteenth century, when Roman Catholicism was introduced by the Portuguese. One of the slaves that was instrumental to the advent of Christianity in Nigeria was Samuel Ajayi Crowther who was captured by the age of 12 by Fulani slave raiders and sold to Portuguese slave traders. This paper discusses the Nigerian State (Islam, Christianity and Politics) and the experience of the Nigerian Church since 1841 to the present. However, their affiliations with slave trade made it difficult to plant the religion in the country as they were more interested in the lucrative slave business than being on the missionary field. As with other areas in Africa, Roman Catholics and Anglicans each tended to establish areas of hegemony in southern Nigeria. The Alexandria-based church initially used Greek, and it was not until the late 2nd century that both the liturgy and the scriptures were translated into three native languages. According to Ilogu “Christianity is intended to be the religion not of one particular race of people, but of the whole world; but in different countries it will wear different clothes.”39 Such different “cloths” take the shape of the cultures of the people to whom the Christian Gospel and faith is brought to. Nigerian Army forces man a checkpoint to protect Sunday Christian prayer services in Sokoto, Nigeria on April 14, 2013, where less than 5 percent of the population is Christian. Because while it was the Kingdom of God that Jesus that brought, Christianity is what man has made of the Kingdom of God that Jesus brought to bring it down to his level. When it comes to Christianity in recent times, the tides seems to have changed has the country has begun to export its Christianity to other parts of the world. Join us as we talk about the history of how Christianity came into Nigeria centuries ago. The origin of Christianity in the world can be traced to the Middle East. This new religion of Christianity began by trying to control its converts. After World War I, In 1952, a former member of the Cherubim and Seraphim society, Pa Josiah Akindayomi, founded the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG). Nigeria. The ignored slaughter of Christians in the Middle East, in particular, Nigeria, is beyond words. Christians in Nigeria should resolve that for every Christian killed, five people who have not known Christ must be brought to the saving knowledge of Christ. Over the years, Christianity has become an integral part of the country’s culture and many Christians in the country adopted Christian names in addition to their local names. According to an August 4 report, at least 171 Christians were slaughtered by Muslim Fulani herdsmen in the space of roughly three weeks:. Since military rule ended in Nigeria in 1999, the country's presidency has typically alternated between a Christian Southerner and a Muslim Northerner. READ ALSO: Colonialism in Nigeria: positive and negative impacts, Leave your email to receive our newsletter, Get the hottest stories from the largest news site in Nigeria, Drop your mail and be the first to get fresh news, This was the man who developed African writing system which the colonial masters destroyed (photos). These include churches like the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Winners’ Chapel, Christ Apostolic Church (the first Aladura Movement in Nigeria), Deeper Christian Life Ministry… In 1932, his church was initially associated with the Pentecostal Apostolic Church of Great Britain but later broke away to form an independent church, the Christ Apostolic Church. Of course, not all Nigerians rejected Christianity and mission work, as can be seen by the large number of converts. When one begins to look at the history of Christianity in Nigeria, one might expect to find its origins in Europeans bringing this new religion across to Africa. The incursion of colonial masters into the entity we now call Nigeria brought Christianity to the people. The remaining 1.9% are either practitioners of indigenous religions or no affiliations. The history of Christianity in Nigeria can be traced back to the 15th century, when the Portuguese were the first Europeans to arrive the shores of the region via the Atlantic. These include Daystar Christian Centre, Covenant Christian Centre, House on the Rock and Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA). There was a revival in this new church and as a result, the church grew in size forming independent churches. Nigeria 45.9% Togo 42.6%. The first church in Nigeria is the Cathedral Church of St. Peter, Ake, Abeokuta. 2. Buhari's predecessor -- Goodluck Jonathan, a Christian from the country's South -- broke that pattern by occupying the office for more than one term. Read on to see more things you should know about being a Christian in Ghana. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. In reality, the toll is likely to be far higher. She is Madam Emadu, who in the course of her travels embraced Christianity in Obiaruku. Nigerian Army forces man a checkpoint to protect Sunday Christian prayer services in Sokoto, Nigeria on April 14, 2013, where less than 5 percent of the population is Christian. For Christians, the logic is that without a birth, there would be no death. Under Adeboye, the church became increasingly Pentecostal in theology and practice; this was probably influenced by the Pentecostal wave in the 1960s and 1970s which was mainly experienced by students on college campuses. On the other hand, the history of Christianity in Nigeria dates back to the 15th century when the Portuguese brought the religion along with them. Currently, the Southern part of the country is dominated by Christians while the Northern part is composed of predominantly Muslims. Slavery in Nigeria (Summary) Taken together, all evidence presented shows that slave trade in Nigeria had adverse effects on the captives and also on the society at … But they were unable to convert the kings and traditional rulers as these leaders were only interested in the guns and mirrors the Europeans offered them. Although there were attempts made to bring European Christianity into the western part of Africa in the 15th and 16th centuries, the real success of the "modern expansion" began with freed Christian slaves who began to return to western Africa towards the end of the eighteenth century. Europe and the United States became increasingly interested in the continent of Africa. Cardinal Francis Arinze is a Roman Catholic Cardinal from Nigeria. They are presently the least influenced by traditional religious beliefs. At worst, they destroyed anything the African people held holy, alienating them even further. Some religious scholars believe that Christianity was introduced to Africans by way of the Egyptian city of Alexandria. Recent estimates put the percentage of Nigeria’s population that practice Christianity between 40% – 49.3%. As a result of this, many African converts to Christianity began forming their own churches and breaking away from the European churches. One of the landmark achievements of Christianity in Nigeria was when Mary Slessor; a Scottish missionary who worked tirelessly for women and children’s rights, halted the practice of killing twins among the Efik people in southern Nigeria. The Portuguese brought Christianity with them but were unable to successfully plant Christianity because of their involvement in slave trade. It was seen as a vast open world whose people needed to hear the gospel of Christianity. At best, they simply disregarded them as something lesser. The reason for that of course is Islam. “Is Nigeria truly one country? This is has been partly due to a new type of churches called the mega churches. Another big reason why it took so long for Christianity to take hold in the hearts of Nigerians was the way the missionaries treated the traditional religions. A Nigerian civil society group estimates that 1,202 Christians have been killed in Nigeria in the first six months of 2020 by jihadists, radicalized herdsmen and others as 22 more Christians were reportedly killed in the Kaduna state last weekend. The year 1841 was the beginning of modem mission work in Nigeria led by Bishop Ajayi Crowther. Christians live predominantly in the South; Muslims are the majority in the North. For instance, when Portugal’s Henry the Navigator tried to carry out his exploration with three Gs in mind (those being God, Gold and Glory), he was mostly met with indifference. Jerusalem was to remain important to the Christian Church until the Roman Army destroyed the city in A.D. 70, after which According to various researchers, denominationalism is one of the worst divisive elements in modern Africa. With their ideas and dreams that were larger than life, Christian missionaries began coming to Africa. The church served as a rallying point for a number of Christian missionaries who brought Christianity into Abeokuta at the time. One of the slaves that was instrumental to the advent of Christianity in Nigeria was Samuel Ajayi Crowther who was captured by the age of 12 by Fulani slave raiders and sold to Portuguese slave traders. A few isolated mission stations and mission bookstores, along with churches serving southern enclaves in the northern cities and larger towns, dotted the Muslim north. Igbo (Ibo), people living chiefly in southeastern Nigeria who speak Igbo, a language of the Benue-Congo branch of the Niger-Congo language family. 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